Nanny 911

So, we have switched from having a daycare provider at a daycare center to the children being at home with a "Nanny" for lack of a better term.  They seem happier (the children that is) and it makes my morning less stressful, so that makes me happier.

Our Nanny doesn't live with us, she arrives in the morning while I am getting ready and gets the children breakfast.  They are usually sitting at the table happy as can be when I leave.  I get kisses from them and off I go.

At daycare there would be days I would be LUCKY to even get a wave goodbye, never mind a kiss!  There were fits and tantrums getting dressed in the morning, there were fits depending on which daycare teacher was in the classroom at drop off.

The only thing that hasn't changed, is super excited children when I walk in the door from work... "MOMMY MOMMY!! You look pretty Mommy!!" or "Up, Up!! Up Peace"  How can resist?  I scoop up "A"arron and get a nice big hug and wet kiss!  Even our Furbabies are happy.. they get the privelage of not being a crate for 9 hours a day!

Do any of you have a Nanny or in home caregiver?  What are your likes and dislikes? AND.. what do you do about taxes?

*prolonging*

Conclusion of 13 Weeks.... The heartbeat MP3, worked like a charm.  He calmly went back to sleep in his crib after his middle of the night feeding/diaper change. YIPPEE!!  I played it on a loop so that he heard it all night long and as a result cuddling was a non-issue.

So on Tuesday night, I had the brilliant idea to play Lullaby by Jewel for him, on a loop.. her voice is soothing so I thought maybe it wasn't necessarily the heartbeat that kept him calm and relaxed, but the "presence" of another person.  BAD IDEA!!  As if I hadn't learned before, don't fix what isn't broken!! He slept awfully!!  Which meant that I slept awfully!!

Moving onto last night.. Wednesday night, I returned to the Heartbeat MP3 on a loop.. and AHHHHH!!! He slept through the night... he woke up twice but went to back sleep on his own.  Well, the first time I changed his diaper and during the process he fell back asleept.  The second wake up, he just kinda whined for bit, sucked on his fingers and soothed himself back to sleep until.. WAIT FOR IT...

YUP... THAT'S RIGHT!!! 

7:00 AM!!

On another note.. our Respite Placement has become a Semi-Permanent Placement.  Baby "A"arron will be with us until reunification with his siblings can occur.  There will be a PPC (Permancy Placement Conference) to discuss the living arrangements for the children in the near future.

13 weeks and...

Countdown:  Full Day 11 of a 14 day Respite Placement

Everytime Aarron looks at me I swear this is what he is thinking.. he even has the "Happy Bunny" grin and all!!  We've had quite a few restless nights the past few days.  He has decided that the best place to be at all times and even to sleep is in my arms.  Yah, basically not the most comfortable place for me! 

Tonight, I tried something a bit different... I downloaded an MP3 of a heartbeat (the CD also has a washing machine, hair dryer, and a few other "soothing sounds" -- okay.. an electric razor will not soothe me, but infants have an odd sense of what is "soothing").  So as I type I can hear the heartbeat on the baby monitor.  And I even put him to bed while he was awake... GASP!! (he was nodding off in my arms before I laid him down) He got a bit cranky after spitting out his pacifier.. so I went back up to his bedroom, gave him his pacifier back.  And turned up the volume on the CD player. -- knock on wood -- after an hour he is soundly sleeping.  Stay Tuned for how the night actually goes....

Don't Stray

from the Schedule!!  

Saturday night (night #3 -- 11 more to go) was our first night that he didn't sleep through the night.  But I think that was my fault... I couldn't bare to wake Aarron up after his feeding at 9:30pm to take a bath and have another feeding before "bedtime" at 11:00pm.  That bit me us in the behind... he woke up at 1:00am crying to be fed (ate about 4 oz.) and then woke up again at 5:00am crying to be fed (ate about 6 oz.) and then woke up again at 7:30am wanting to be paid attention to.  So it looks like I have to wake him up for his nightly bath and "supper" so that we have a happy, full baby to put to sleep.

Sunday (full day #3 -- 11 more to go) was eventful, we went to church in the morning and then did some "chores" and then out to grab a late lunch.  And he was amazing through all of it... I couldn't ask for a better first placement (maybe its more the novelty of having a baby around, but whatever it is.. he's happy and we are happy having him with us -- even if it is briefly).  And he failed to sleep through the night again, but he was a little more on schedule.  He woke up at 1:30am but just whined a bit and then soothed himself back to sleep, until 3:30am when he was "STARVING!".  And then he woke up at 6:30am to be fed again.. and we back to sleep for a bit.

Today (full day #4 -- 10 more to go) was his first day at day care.  I have to admit I was a bit nervous about dropping him at day care.. I don't know why, but it isn't the same as spending the day with him.  So I dropped him off this morning with a bag full of clothes, diapers, wipes, powder, bottles, pacifiers, sunblock, his hat, and probably way more stuff than he could possibly need in one day -- better to be safe than sorry.  And went off to work.  I haven't called the day care.. I figure they will call if there is something wrong...

No calls = Good Days!!

P. will be picking him up this afternoon... and spending their second time alone (I have complete faith in him.. he is an amazing "Dad").

---

Aarron's Stats/Milestones:

Age: 12 weeks
Weight: 14 pounds (approximately)
Length: unkown (maybe 22 inches)

Milestones:

By the End of 1st Month:
✔• Lift head for short periods of time
✔• Move head from side to side
✔• Prefer the human face to other shapes
✔• Make jerky arm movements
✔• Bring hand to face

✔• Demonstrate strong reflex movements

✔• Focus on items 8 to 12 inches away

✔• Turn towards familiar sounds or voices

✔• Respond to loud sounds

✔• Blink at bright lights

By the End of 2nd Month:
✔• Smile
✔• Track objects with eyes
✔• Make noises other than crying
✔•Repeat vowel noises, such as “ah” or “ooh”
✔• Enjoy being held and spoken to
 
By the End of 3rd Month:
✔• Raise head and chest while on tummy

✔• Lift head 45 degrees
✔• Kick and strengthen legs while on back
✔• Open and shut hand
✔• Reach for dangling objects
✔• Grasp and shake hand toys
✔• Begin to develop a social smile
✔• Kick legs energetically
✔• Bring both hands together
 
By the End of 4th Month:
✔• Sleep about six hours at night before waking (total sleep typically 14 to 17 hours) 
    • Roll over (usually stomach to back is first)
✔• Sit with support
✔• Lift head up 90 degrees
✔• Follow a moving object for a 180-degree arc
✔• Babble and amuse him or herself with new noises
✔• Respond to all colors and shades
✔• Recognize a baby bottle or breast
✔• Explore objects with mouth
✔• Communicate fear, pain, loneliness, and discomfort through crying
✔• Respond to a rattle or bell